At that moment, Xuanzang was running through the well channels, pulling Ashu along. Master Xue led the exiles to block their path, but they narrowly escaped capture several times. They passed many ventilation shafts, but all were too high to climb out of.
“It’s no use, Master,” Ashu panted, leaning against the channel wall. Both were drenched in sweat, their legs trembling. “We need to find a vertical shaft to climb up, or they’ll surely catch us.”
Xuanzang caught his breath. “Give me the channel map from your pocket.”
Ashu pulled out the map. Xuanzang wiped the sweat from his brow and studied it carefully near a bright shaft. Ashu asked, “Master, the map doesn’t show any exits!”
“I’m not looking for channel exits, but for the exiles’ exit,” Xuanzang replied, spreading the map across his knees. “Ashu, think – if the Second Prince stages a rebellion during the chaos in Gaochang, how would Princess Longxue use these exiles?”
Ashu pondered, then exclaimed, “For a surprise attack!”
“Correct,” Xuanzang nodded. “And what’s the target?”
Ashu was shocked. “Could it be… the King of Gaochang?”
“Indeed,” Xuanzang praised. “Why else would Longxue Yuezhi hide them secretly in these channels and stockpile weapons? There’s only one reason – this channel must have an exit in the palace!”
“You’re right, Master!” Ashu clapped his hands. “Both Qu Wentai and Qu Renshu are in the palace. This way, Longxue Yuezhi can assassinate them during the Second Prince’s rebellion. Master, are you planning to find that exit? It’s like finding a needle in a haystack!”
Xuanzang shook his head. “Not necessarily. Remember, Ashu, the more intricate and effective a plan, the more patterns it follows. Look, the palace is in the northwest part of the royal city. Since we’ve determined the exit is in the palace, we should search in the northwest direction.”
Ashu smiled wryly. “Master, how can you determine direction in these channels?”
Xuanzang pointed to the shaft above, where sunlight illuminated the edge. “It’s about noon now, isn’t it? See the sunlight? The illuminated side is north.”
Ashu was puzzled. “Master, if we go north, it’s all dark channels without sunlight.”
Xuanzang smiled. “Look at the water flow. Except for the Huma, White, and Baidi channels, most run north-south or east-west. Water comes from the Tianshan Mountains in the north, so the terrain slopes down southward. North-south channels will have rapid currents, while east-west ones will be gentler. Isn’t that an easy way to determine direction?”
Ashu was impressed but still had doubts. “Master, how do we know our current position?”
“We head north,” Xuanzang said calmly. “Look at the map. In the northern part of the city, there are two main east-west channels. The southern one is the Yushu Channel, and the northern one is the North Channel. If we go straight north, the first main channel we encounter should be the Yushu Channel.”
With a clear goal, they evaded the searching exiles and sneaked northward. The exiles were searching southward in a sweeping formation, never imagining their quarry would actively enter their core area. The two groups passed each other unnoticed.
After walking north for about half a kilometer, they indeed came upon a large east-west channel with surging water. Their spirits lifted, but the channel map lacked surface landmarks, especially around the palace area, which was completely blank. This was understandable – how could underground channels beneath the palace be displayed for all to see in the Ministry of Revenue? This made pinpointing the palace’s location quite difficult.
The surroundings were pitch black, and without torches, they couldn’t consult the map. Xuanzang thought for a moment, then asked Ashu, “Is there a diagonal channel north of the royal city, running from Manshui Channel into the moat?”
“Yes,” Ashu replied. “It’s the only diagonal channel in the royal city.”
Xuanzang smiled. “If I’m not mistaken, that diagonal channel must pass through the palace! The water system under the palace can’t be too complex. In the scorching summer, the nobles retreat to underground chambers to escape the heat. That’s why they’d divert a diagonal channel to ventilate important palace rooms. Let’s head straight for that diagonal channel.”
As they continued forward, they encountered ventilation shafts, brightening the channels and making direction easier to determine. They soon found the diagonal channel, which was somewhat unique. The wide waterway was planted with numerous grapevines, some even covering entire walls with wooden frames. One could imagine the enticing sight of lush grapes hanging on the walls in midsummer.
“We must be under the palace now!” Xuanzang exclaimed excitedly.
No sooner had he spoken than an arrow whistled past, embedding itself in a grape trellis post. They heard someone shout, “Over here!”
Looking back, they saw four or five exiles entering the diagonal channel, calling for their comrades. The two exchanged glances and simultaneously began sprinting along the earthen platforms on either side of the waterway. Grape trellises whizzed by, and soon windows and even doors appeared on the channel walls.
“Master-” Ashu called out as they ran, “Are these doors to the palace’s underground chambers? Should we break one down?”
“No!” Xuanzang quickly stopped him. “Look for the largest, most luxurious door!”
Ashu didn’t understand immediately, but with arrows flying past them, there was no time to ask. As they ran, the channel suddenly widened into a large pool where water rushed and gathered. The pool was incredibly opulent, its edges inlaid with fist-sized pebbles. Fish swam in the water, and a vertical shaft above let sunlight stream down, creating dancing reflections. Grapevines surrounded the area, and though leafless, the ancient vines had a certain charm.
The two were stunned to find such a place in the underground channels. They stopped short, noticing a large arched door on the left side of the pool. It was built with foot-long bricks glazed in pale blue and intricately carved. As the exiles closed in, they had no time to examine it further. They pushed hard on the door, surprised to find the juniper wood unlatched. It swung open easily.
Both were somewhat bewildered but had no time to think. They ducked inside and closed the door behind them. There was a massive bar on the inside, which Xuanzang had just managed to drop into place when the door shuddered with a heavy impact. Xuanzang muttered “Amitabha,” thinking they had barely escaped the exiles bursting in.
Then, Master Xue’s voice came from outside: “Venerable monk, as a man of the cloth, why involve yourself in worldly affairs? In the eyes of Buddhism, the cycle of life and the rise and fall of dynasties are merely impermanent phenomena. Your path lies in the Western Paradise – why disrupt the karmic causes and effects of the mortal realm?”
“Amitabha,” Xuanzang replied after a moment of silence. “Walking is meditation, sitting in meditation – how do I know that standing on this threshold is not standing on the path to the Western Paradise? Buddhism protects all living beings in the world. This conflict may satisfy your desires of greed and anger, but how many innocent lives will it harm? Master Xue, you naturally have your pride, unwilling to submit to the Tang Emperor. But you led the Xue clan of Longxi on a twelve-year journey, with seven or eight out of ten perishing. You’d rather hide underground as rebels than live openly and honorably. I don’t know if you’re satisfying your pride or that of the Xue clan!”
“Venerable monk…” Master Xue sighed deeply. “Do you realize that if you return to the surface, a single word from you will cause thousands to lose their heads? My Xue clansmen will be exterminated!”
Xuanzang knew this was no exaggeration. A single word about this conspiracy would indeed cause bloodshed throughout Gaochang. He hesitated for a long while before sighing, “Master Xue, you should leave Gaochang quickly! If you’re willing to return to the Tang, I’ll take full responsibility before Qu Wentai and ensure your life is spared!”
“Venerable monk,” Master Xue said mournfully, “When you set out on your journey to the West, did you ever consider turning back? This path is my journey to the West!”
Xuanzang remained silent, and there was no further response from outside.
“Master, where are we?” Ashu was staring in awe at the hall before them.
Xuanzang turned around, finally taking in the spacious hall. Several pillars carved with intricate patterns surrounded them. At the far end, two symmetrical staircases curved upward on either side. In the center of the wall hung a carved image of Shakyamuni Buddha. Xuanzang first bowed to the Buddha image before saying, “This, I fear, is the underground chamber of His Majesty’s harem.”
“I understand now, Master!” Ashu suddenly realized. “So you were looking for the most luxurious door to find King Qu Wentai!”
Xuanzang smiled, patting his head. “I sought it because it must be Master Xue’s intended target!”
Chatting and laughing, they climbed the stairs. It seemed this was merely a summer retreat, with no other purpose. Now, in winter, it was bitterly cold and unattended. At the top of the stairs stood another ornate golden door. Xuanzang pushed it, but as his hand touched it, the door suddenly opened silently. A wave of warm air washed over them. Inside appeared to be a spacious room filled with steam and a faint, intoxicating fragrance.
“Master,” Ashu froze, “are there automatic doors in this world?”
“Doors, of course, need to be pushed, just as people walk through the cycle of rebirth – it’s all arranged by past lives,” a soft voice replied from within. The voice was melodious and pleasant – a woman’s.
Simultaneously, several cries of alarm rang out: “Who dares intrude into the Queen’s chambers?”
Xuanzang was startled to find four palace maids surrounding them. Before them was a large bath, over three meters wide, built of white marble. The water bubbled with heat, its surface strewn with fresh flowers. In the bath lay the graceful form of a woman, shrouded in steam. Only her long black hair draped over the white marble was visible, creating a striking contrast of black and white, indescribably beautiful.
Xuanzang was shocked beyond measure, silently cursing his luck. He immediately covered Ashu’s eyes and turned away, realizing he had accidentally stumbled into the Queen’s bathing chamber – and at the worst possible moment!
The Queen laughed melodiously. “Venerable monk, Ashu is still a child, unlike you.”
Xuanzang grew even more flustered. “Amitabha, Your Highness is of the highest status, how could we dare to offend? This humble monk had no idea Your Highness was here… truly…” He was usually eloquent but now found himself stammering, much to the Queen’s amusement. She stood up in the bath, her naked, snow-white body covered in water droplets, and tossed her hair back, sending an arc of water through the air.
Xuanzang felt a coolness on his head but didn’t dare wipe it away, silently chanting “Amitabha” instead.
The Queen beckoned to her maids. One brought a light gauze robe and draped it over her shoulders, kneeling behind to fasten the sash. Only then did the Queen say with a smile, “Venerable monk, you may turn around now.”
Xuanzang’s body twitched, but he didn’t dare turn. He gently pushed Ashu, who understood and pried Xuanzang’s hand from his eyes. Looking back, he announced loudly, “Master, she’s dressed now.”
“Ami… tabha…” Xuanzang hadn’t expected him to say it so bluntly and began stammering again, sweat pouring down his forehead.
The Queen doubled over with laughter, pointing at Ashu and barely able to stand. “You… you child… you’re simply too adorable!”
Xuanzang was even more ashamed. He turned, not daring to look directly at the Queen, and said softly, “Amitabha, Your Highness, this place is dangerous. You should leave quickly. Assassins are lying in wait outside. This humble monk will go to see His Majesty immediately.”
The Queen seemed unconcerned. She turned gracefully and reclined on a cushion, resting her chin on her hands as she gazed at Xuanzang with a smile. “Venerable monk, since you’re here, why rush to leave? I’ve long wanted to chat with you but never had the chance. Don’t worry about those few exiles.”
Xuanzang’s heart sank. “You know about them?”
The Queen smiled silently. Xuanzang looked at her expression and slowly nodded. “Amitabha, so Your Highness is the benefactor who wore the golden mask!”
Had he not heard her voice himself, and had the Queen not deliberately revealed herself, Xuanzang would never have believed that the golden-masked figure who wielded an iron hammer to break through floors and remained calm while pursued by a hundred iron cavalry in Jiaohe City was the mother of the nation, secluded in the palace! Even Ashu was dumbfounded, his expression bewildered.
“You figured it out?” The Queen smiled charmingly. “What else have you deduced, Venerable monk?”
Xuanzang gazed at her attire, slightly dazed. “Narrow sleeves, high waist, long skirt… No wonder I found your clothing strange when I first saw you. This is the style of the former Sui Dynasty. So Your Highness is from the Sui era. And Master Xue and these exiles…”
“They are, of course, my subjects,” the Queen sighed softly. “I am a princess of the former Sui Dynasty.”
Xuanzang was shocked and about to speak when he heard the faint sound of swords being drawn from the front hall. Then came the muffled sound of footsteps, the clatter of armor, and the shouts of crowds. It seemed countless warriors were rushing towards the front hall.
A palace maid ran in, panic-stricken, to report: “Your Highness, His Majesty got into an argument while feasting with the King of Yanqi, and both sides have drawn weapons.”
The Queen calmly brushed back her hair. “This is just the beginning. The more exciting act is yet to come.”
Amidst the clash of swords and the clink of cups, the grand feast in the palace’s main hall was now a powder keg ready to explode.
When Qu Zhisheng saw Longxue Yuezhi, the King of Yanqi, Long Tuqizhi, had just entered the palace with a massive delegation. One hundred and twenty fully armed dragon riders provided personal protection. Long Tuqizhi knew that in the palace, this small force was far from enough to ensure his safety, but he showed no fear as he strode into the main hall, his curved sword at his side.
To his surprise, upon entering the main hall, he found himself facing a grand state banquet!
The Second Prince of Gaochang, Qu Deyong, along with the heads of the six ministries and important royal officials were all present. However, military leaders were conspicuously absent, especially the formidable Western Regions general Zhang Xiong. Long Tuqizhi was no fool and quickly sensed Qu Wentai’s goodwill in this arrangement.
Long Tuqizhi, over forty years old, was a burly man with a full beard. The people of Yanqi claimed dragon ancestry, and Long Tuqizhi was one of the most warlike kings in the Western Regions. Yanqi had suffered repeated humiliations in just half a month – not only had their envoy to the Tang Dynasty been ambushed and killed by Gaochang, but their princess had also been abducted by a Gaochang prince. How could the hot-tempered Long Tuqizhi tolerate such insults? He had sent a letter that was essentially an ultimatum – return the princess or face war!
After sending it, he didn’t even wait for Gaochang’s reply before contacting Kucha and Kashgar to form an allied army, positioning troops at the border in preparation for war. Unexpectedly, at this moment, he received a letter from the Tang monk Xuanzang, urging both countries to consider the suffering of the people and embrace Buddhist compassion to resolve their dispute peacefully. Xuanzang invited Yanqi to send envoys to Gaochang for talks to seek a solution.
Yanqi was also a Buddhist country, albeit following Hinayana Buddhism. They had to seriously consider Xuanzang’s proposal, as Long Tuqizhi had always planned to gain Tang support, and obtaining Xuanzang’s understanding seemed crucial. Thus, Long Tuqizhi patiently led a delegation to Gaochang’s royal city, despite the two countries being on the brink of war.
However, to Long Tuqizhi’s surprise, at this royal banquet, everyone who shouldn’t be there was present, while the one who should be there was absent. He looked left and right, front and back, but couldn’t find a single bald monk.
Long Tuqizhi immediately became irritated and questioned Qu Wentai: “Your Majesty, where is the esteemed Tang monk?”
Qu Wentai, who had been troubled for a day and night, realized he couldn’t avoid this and had to lie: “Oh, Venerable Xuanzang went to Jiaohe City yesterday. Didn’t you meet him?”
Long Tuqizhi was stunned: “Jiaohe City? No, I didn’t see him. Why did the Venerable go to Jiaohe? Wasn’t he supposed to come and mediate for Yanqi?”
Who said he was mediating for you? Gaochang is the wronged party here! Qu Wentai cursed inwardly, but his face remained as gentle as a spring breeze: “Ha ha, the Venerable is a living Buddha among men. How can we worldly people fathom his Zen insights? Come, let me first welcome Your Majesty. Your Majesty is a wine connoisseur – see how our Gaochang grape wine has improved!”
Long Tuqizhi was in no mood for wine. He drank a few cups halfheartedly, growing suspicious. How could the host not show up when guests had arrived at his invitation? There must be a plot afoot! A strong sense of unease welled up inside him.
“Your Majesty,” Long Tuqizhi set down his wine cup, “since the esteemed Tang monk is not here, let’s speak frankly. Gaochang has repeatedly humiliated Yanqi – how do you intend to settle this account?”
Qu Wentai feigned surprise: “Dragon King, our two countries are neighbors. How has Gaochang repeatedly humiliated you?”
“Hmph.” Long Tuqizhi said coldly, “A month ago, who ambushed and killed our envoys in the Moheyan Desert?”
Qu Wentai appeared even more surprised: “Moheyan Desert? Dragon King, that’s not within Gaochang’s borders. If your envoys were killed there, you should either find the King of Yiwu or the Tang Emperor. Why come to me?”
Long Tuqizhi was furious. He glanced at Qu Deyong, who pretended not to notice: “Your Majesty, heaven sees all our deeds. Since you’ve invited me here if you show no sincerity at all, what is there left to discuss?”
“Dragon King,” Qu Wentai remained calm, speaking mildly, “This concerns diplomatic relations between our countries. Ambushing another country’s envoys is an extremely serious accusation. If you have evidence, I’ll gladly face this case even in the Turkic court. But without evidence, such slander against me will not be tolerated by Gaochang!”
Long Tuqizhi indeed couldn’t produce evidence. If he had any, he wouldn’t have come – killing envoys was tantamount to declaring war, and he would have attacked directly. He just hadn’t expected Qu Wentai to be so thick-skinned. But from Qu Wentai’s words, he could tell that Gaochang had no sincere intention of resolving the issue. So why had they invited him?
Growing increasingly uneasy, Long Tuqizhi composed himself and said with a cold smile: “We naturally have evidence of the envoy killings, but out of respect for you, we’ve refrained from making it public. Let’s set that aside for now. How do you explain the abduction of Shuang Yuezhi?”
Qu Wentai was extremely troubled: “I’ve explained this in detail in my letter, but regardless, it was Gaochang’s fault. I will certainly return the princess and severely punish my unfilial son. What does the Dragon King think of this?”
“Is this your sincerity?” Long Tuqizhi exploded in anger. “Your eldest daughter married the eldest son of Tongye Khagan. If my son had abducted her before the wedding and hidden her in the palace for over a month, and when you came to claim her, I told you we would return the princess and punish the unfilial son – would you accept that?”
Before Qu Wentai could respond, Qu Deyong burst out in anger, shouting: “How dare you! Insolence—”
Weapons were not forbidden in Western Region palaces, and some hot-tempered officials immediately drew their knives. Long Tuqizhi smiled coldly: “See? I merely spoke hypothetically, and you’re already furious, drawing weapons…” He suddenly smashed his wine cup on the ground, roaring, “But you Gaochang people did this!”
The shattering cup startled everyone’s nerves, and chaos erupted in the palace. Gaochang’s palace guards drew their swords and swarmed in from all directions, surrounding the main hall. The Yanqi delegation wasn’t to be outdone – dragon riders rushed in to protect them, while some hot-headed envoys kicked over the low tables in front of them and drew their swords. Long Tuqizhi remained seated, now calm, with a cold smile as he leisurely poured himself another cup of wine.
Qu Wentai exploded in anger, slamming the table and shouting: “What disgrace is this! Everyone, withdraw at once!”
Seeing his father’s fury, Qu Deyong hurriedly ordered the palace guards to retreat. The tension in the great hall eased, and everyone sat down, glaring at each other. Qu Wentai asked: “Dragon King, what is your proposed solution to this matter?”
“Release Shuang Yuezhi and hand Qu Zhisheng over to Yanqi for punishment!” Long Tuqizhi said coldly. “Furthermore, the Silk Road must be moved south, passing through Jiaohe City directly to Yanqi’s royal city.”
Qu Wentai finally lost his temper, laughing coldly: “What an appetite! Lose a daughter in exchange for a Silk Road! Let me tell you, the princess is in the harem right now. If you want her, take her! I will certainly deal with that unfilial son, but how I deal with him is not for you Yanqi people to decide. Moving the Silk Road south is impossible. If your three-country alliance can destroy Gaochang, you can take everything from me, Qu Wentai. But if you can’t win on the battlefield, it’s all empty talk!”
With that, he stood up and stormed out of the hall. Long Tuqizhi knew Qu Wentai would never agree to these terms and wasn’t surprised. He sneered, kicked over the table, and left with his delegation.
The negotiations had broken down almost as soon as they began.
In the royal bedchamber, the Queen seemed lost in distant memories: “My maiden name is Yuwen. Venerable monk, you must have heard of this surname.”
Xuanzang certainly had. From the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang eras, it was one of the most illustrious surnames, the royal surname of Northern Zhou. During the Sui Dynasty, Yuwen Shu enjoyed the favor of both Emperor Wen and Emperor Yang, and the Yuwen clan wielded immense power. In the 14th year of Daye, Yuwen Shu’s son Yuwen Huaji assassinated Emperor Yang, effectively ending the Sui Dynasty at the hands of the Yuwen clan.
“I am from the lineage of Yuwen Qing, the Grand General and Pillar of State of the Zhou Dynasty. Our ancestral home is in Luoyang, and my given name is Yubo. In a way, we’re from the same hometown, Venerable Monk,” the Queen said wistfully. “In the fourth year of Daye, Wentai and the previous king went to Zhangye to meet Emperor Yang, then followed him to Chang’an, and later on his expedition to Goguryeo.
Emperor Yang was very fond of Wentai and tried hard to win him over, hoping to open a passage to the Western Regions. In the eighth year of Daye, he even bestowed upon me the title of Princess Huarong and betrothed me to Wentai. After our marriage, I followed Wentai to Gaochang. He listened to everything I said, and at my urging, initiated Sinicization reforms. Unexpectedly, less than a year into implementation, it sparked a coup. Our family fled to the Turks, living as refugees for six years before finally quelling the rebellion and returning to Gaochang.”
Tears flowed slowly down Queen Yuwen’s cheeks as she softly sang: “My family married me off to the edge of the sky, entrusting me to a foreign land, to the King of Wusun. A yurt for a room felt for walls, meat for food, and kumiss for drink. Living here, I constantly think of home, and my heart aches within. I wish I were a swan goose, to return to my homeland.”
Xuanzang listened silently, his heart filled with sorrow. Well-versed in Confucian studies, he understood that she was singing the “Song of the Swan Goose” by Princess Xijun of the Western Han Dynasty. Princess Xijun’s life was tragic – she was the first princess sent for a political marriage in the Western Han. She was the daughter of Liu Jian, the King of Jiangdu. When she was young, Liu Jian committed suicide after a failed rebellion, and her mother was executed as an accomplice.
When she grew up, Emperor Wu, to ally with the Wusun against the Xiongnu, bestowed upon her the title of princess and married her to the Wusun king Kunmo. Kunmo was elderly and died two years later. His grandson, Cenzou, ascended the throne. Wusun custom dictated levirate marriage, where Cenzou would inherit all of Kunmo’s wives and concubines. Princess Xijun couldn’t accept this and asked Emperor Wu to allow her to return. The emperor refused and ordered her to marry Cenzou. Xijun had no choice but to remarry. A year later, she died of sorrow.
“Princess Jieyou and Wang Zhaojun of Han, Princesses Anyi and Yicheng of Sui, and me! Ha ha—” Queen Yuwen laughed loudly. “What mighty Han, great Sui – they’re all cowards! Were their glorious reputation and splendid empire bought by sacrificing us, weak women?”
Xuanzang couldn’t answer. He sighed: “Your Highness, the former Sui is gone, and your mission has ended. From what I see, His Majesty deeply cherishes you. Why not enjoy the love between husband and wife, the affection between people?”
“He treats me well?” Queen Yuwen gave a bitter laugh. “He truly treats me well! In your eyes, Venerable monk, what kind of person is Wentai?”
Xuanzang didn’t understand why she was asking this but thought for a moment before replying: “His Majesty is of a steady disposition, benevolent and compassionate. He spreads kindness throughout the country, and the people are prosperous and content.”
Queen Yuwen looked at him mockingly: “Is this the Qu Wentai you see, Venerable monk? But it’s not the Qu Wentai I know!” As she spoke, she suddenly tore open her robe, exposing her bare back to Xuanzang.
Xuanzang was shocked and quickly turned away, but in that instant, his heart sank. The Queen’s fair arms and back were crisscrossed with old bruises and whip marks!
“Amitabha!” Xuanzang said sternly. “Please, Your Highness, have some self-respect!”
Queen Yuwen laughed harshly, slowly putting her clothes back on, and said mockingly: “Did you see clearly, Venerable monk? These whip marks, these brands, these bruises from punches and kicks! This is the benevolent and compassionate Qu Wentai you see! The Qu Wentai who builds Buddhist temples and gives alms to monks all his life, whose kindness and good governance you praise endlessly!”
Xuanzang asked in disbelief: “These… were inflicted by him?”
This revelation was truly shocking, even Ashu beside him was utterly astonished. After all, what status did a queen hold? She symbolized the dignity of the nation, yet to be abused to such an extent – if word got out, it would cause an uproar throughout the country and shock all the states of the Western Regions.
“Venerable monk, do you think anyone else would dare to lay a finger on me as the Queen?” Queen Yuwen said coldly. “Qu Wentai is nothing but a coward, a hypocrite, a sadist! He respects Buddha, worships Buddha, flatters Buddha, protects Buddha, all just to create his false image. Inside, he’s vicious and cruel. When he suppressed the rebellion years ago, he wiped out the nine clans of sixty rebels in a single day – over three thousand people were beheaded, from eighty-year-old elders to nursing infants, and not one was spared! He’s strong yet weak, compassionate yet brutal, resolute yet fickle.
He wears a different face for everyone – in your eyes, he’s a benevolent ruler, in mine a sadist, in the Crown Prince’s eyes he’s cold and fierce, in the Second Prince’s eyes he’s treacherous, in the Third Prince’s eyes he’s indifferent, in the ministers’ eyes he’s unpredictable, in the people’s eyes he’s kind and just… Venerable monk, can you imagine what kind of life I’ve lived in the eighteen years since I married him?”
Xuanzang was completely stunned. The lapel of Princess Yuwen’s robe was not properly fastened, revealing a faint dark brown whip mark. Xuanzang couldn’t imagine how the king, who had always been respectful to him and devoutly reverent towards Buddhism, could wield a whip and strike his wife so viciously.
“Qu Wentai’s first wife was a Turk, the mother of Qu Renshu and Qu Deyong. She died early. Later, he married a princess from the Hephthalite remnants, who became the mother of Qu Zhisheng. Twenty years ago, this Hephthalite princess also died. The Turks wanted him to marry a Turkic woman, but Qu Wentai, as the crown prince of Gaochang, was extremely arrogant. Angered by the Turks’ oppression, he planned to break away from them and ally with the Sui Dynasty.
So, he married me through Emperor Yang’s arrangement,” Princess Yuwen said calmly. “Emperor Yang was already well-known. Though fond of grand achievements, he was very pragmatic. Whether it was me Princess Anyi or Princess Yicheng, every princess sent for political marriage carried a mission to influence the king and foster goodwill with the court. In the first year, we were like-minded and affectionate. He treated me very well, and I thought I had found true love in a foreign land.
I spent countless efforts helping him sinicize and reform, even using the Yuwen family’s connections to support Gaochang. Unfortunately, he pushed the reforms too aggressively. By then, I was thinking entirely from Gaochang’s perspective and repeatedly advised him to proceed cautiously, but he wouldn’t listen. Eventually, it sparked a rebellion, and our family fled miserably to the Turks…”
Xuanzang and Ashu listened silently. The great hall was quiet, with only the bubbling sound of the hot spring in the pool. The four maids, apparently the princess’s confidantes, listened to her recount the past with tears in their eyes. One older maid quietly walked over, massaging the princess’s back, and said softly, “Princess, please say no more. The Master can surely understand your suffering.”
Princess Yuwen shook her head and sighed lightly: “In this world, Buddha speaks of eight sufferings: birth, aging, sickness, death, separation from loved ones, association with those one dislikes, unfulfilled desires, and the five aggregates. But is there suffering for princesses sent for political marriage? Especially for those from fallen countries! Back then, we were exiled to the Turks and endured countless humiliations. Qu Wentai begged me to obtain the emperor’s support for his restoration.
But you know, first Yang Xuangan rebelled, and then the third expedition to Goguryeo failed. Various rebel kings rose everywhere. His Majesty toured Yanmen and was almost captured by the Turks. He could barely take care of himself, let alone a princess sent for a political marriage. Then came the chaos at the end of Sui, with almost all of the north falling to rebels except Chang’an. Even His Majesty fled to Jiangdu. In the 13th year of Daye, after Xue Ju rebelled in Longyou, I lost all contact with the court.
How did we survive those years? Qu Wentai’s pride and arrogance suffered a devastating blow. His temper grew increasingly perverse and violent. He saw me as an ill-omened woman, whipping and humiliating me daily. He slapped my face, pulled my hair, burned me with red-hot chopsticks, doused me with cold water in freezing weather nearly killing me, and even held me underwater in a pond until I almost suffocated… After the fall of the Sui Dynasty, he completely gave up on me. To seek forgiveness from the Turks, he even sent me to the beds of Turkic nobles…”
She laughed bitterly and shrilly: “Master, which of the eight sufferings of life can compare to mine?”
The maids fell to their knees, wailing in grief. The princess shouted harshly: “Why are you crying? When your tears dry up, who will cry for me after I die?”
“So, you nurtured these refugees and planned a rebellion to kill Qu Wentai?” Xuanzang sighed deeply.
“Kill him?” The princess said proudly, “If I wanted to kill him, a cup of poisoned wine would send him to hell. What I do is for the country and family I can no longer rely on, the mission entrusted to me by the emperor and my father. The Great Sui has fallen, but its princess remains, and its people in foreign lands still have someone to rely on. Originally, these refugees under Master Xue were under the protection of Princess Yicheng of the Eastern Turks.
Not only refugees, but Princess Yicheng even welcomed Emperor Yang’s Empress Xiao to the Turks, established Yang Zhengdao, the posthumous son of Prince Qi Yang Liang, as the Sui King, and sent tens of thousands of refugees to Yang Zhengdao to establish a court. She also repeatedly instigated Khan Chuluo and Khan Jieli to attack the Tang. It was only in recent years when the Tang cunningly bought off the Eastern Turks that her situation worsened, leading Master Xue and others to seek refuge with me.”
Xuanzang didn’t approve of her actions and advised: “Princess, after seventeen years of chaos at the end of Sui, people now long for stability. The Great Tang has recovered its national strength and is flourishing. Why gather refugees to oppose the Great Tang? After all, that is your homeland.”
“Master, I do not intend to incite war,” the princess said wistfully. “Think of us princesses from fallen countries, with no one to rely on in this world. When we see refugees from the fallen Sui, it’s like seeing our kin. If I can find a foothold for them in Gaochang, I’m willing to do anything.”
Xuanzang smiled bitterly: “One wrong move and all is lost. I always thought it was Long Shuangyue who kidnapped me and nurtured those refugees. I never expected such a twist in the middle.”
Princess Yuwen laughed heartily: “Master, you usually see through everything. How did you make a mistake in this matter?”
“Because… because…” Xuanzang smiled wryly, “I’ve always been too wary of Long Shuangyue. When I saw that heroic woman riding a horse and wielding a hammer, I immediately assumed it was Long Shuangyue. Who could have imagined the princess would be so valiant?”
“How could a daughter of the Yuwen family be delicate!” the princess said coldly.
“Indeed!” Xuanzang sighed, “Now I understand. The princess had long planned rebellion, secretly nurturing refugees. Long Shuangyue’s schemes are truly unfathomable, hiding in the shadows, deliberately enticing the princess to kidnap me, and stirring up the situation in Gaochang to reap the benefits. Although I agreed to her bet, before the game even began, I was already one step behind.”
Seeing Xuanzang praise Long Shuangyue so highly, Princess Yuwen was displeased. She snorted, “How dare that vixen presume to manipulate me? The day you left for Jiaohe City, she came to see me, deliberately tempting me to act. I merely agreed to use her to divert others’ attention. Besides, kidnapping you benefit me in every way with no drawbacks.”
Xuanzang thought for a moment: “It seems now that the princess also intended to deliberately cause unrest in Gaochang, with the two princes fighting for succession, so you could use the refugees to control the situation?”
The princess smiled charmingly: “Master is indeed clever. You’re right, I want Qu Wentai to have nothing, to sit alone on the throne, with nowhere to turn in the entire Western Regions, just like a princess from a fallen country sent for a political marriage.”
As Xuanzang was about to speak again, a maid suddenly ran in panicked: “Princess, His Majesty has returned. He… he seems to be in an extremely bad mood.”
The princess’s body trembled violently, and goosebumps rose on her fair skin.
“Amitabha,” Xuanzang said, “Since the princess has revealed such secret matters, I suppose you won’t let this poor monk leave now?”
The princess smiled: “Master, please stay here for a few days. Once things calm down, I will naturally let you go west.”
Xuanzang smiled bitterly: “How can a humble monk like me stay in the princess’s harem?”
The princess glanced at him sideways: “There’s only one door here. If you dare to go out, I’ll tear my clothes and cry to Qu Wentai that you raped me.”
Xuanzang was stunned. He looked at Ashu, seeming not to understand. Ashu’s little face turned bright red, trying not to laugh, quickly covering her mouth and struggling to hold it in. This tactic was too devastating for Xuanzang. He had become a monk at ten and been fully ordained at thirteen. Though he had traveled far and read extensively, easily seeing through human schemes and stratagems, he had never encountered such an unreasonable woman, let alone one who threatened her reputation. For a moment, he truly didn’t know what to do.
“What’s wrong, Master? Don’t you believe me? You can try taking one step out of this palace and see,” the princess reached to remove her clothes, her expression completely calm. “I’m already an impure woman, used by countless Turkic nobles. Master, you are a living Buddha, a pure white lotus. To be humiliated together with you would be my fortune.”
“Amitabha…” This time, Xuanzang was truly helpless. In the past, he had easily navigated Cui Jue’s Eighteen Hells, and even Faya, known as the Monk Schemer, could do nothing against him. But now, facing this princess, he was truly at a loss.
The princess let out a long laugh, but within it was indescribable desolation. She rose from the cushion and gracefully left the bathroom. Her white clothes were like snow, resembling a fallen lotus flower.